Bar dancers hold sway as cops look away

As the wooden door opens, the song Babuji zara dheere chalo floats in the smoke-filled bar. A young Nepali welcomes the guests with a warm handshake followed by “How are you sir?” The moment one steps inside this bar located on the first floor of an old building in Secunderabad, the decibel levels shoot up. As the eyes adjust to the darkness, one can see people of all age groups showering money on the girl who smiles continuously as she does her ‘jhatkas’ amid cheers, whistles and clinking of glasses. Is this legal? No, say the police who are all set to crack down on such bars (called ‘bubbling pubs’ by regulars). Expresso visited one such bar, popularly referred to as the ‘Chhamia bar’ in Secunderabad and found that by late night, the girls who were singing began dancing as well. According to police reports, at least five bar and restaurant outlets in the Twin Cities have obtained permission to host orchestras. However, at least a dozen bars in the city have bar dancers as well at various places such as Ameerpet, Kukatpally, RTC X Roads, Abids and Secunderabad. Expresso visited one ‘bubbling pub’ at Secunderabad. The manager there said that as per requests of customers, bar dancers are arranged. At another dance bar, a smiling waiter asks, “What would you like to have sir? Banana, Apple or Orange?” These are not fruit juices to go with the liquor but the code names of the bar dancers, aged between 20 and 27 with whom one can sing and dance, of course after shelling out some money. Explaining the codes, a bouncer says that ‘Banana’ stands for girls clad in jeans and tiny tops who will help you sing and dance with her. ‘Apple’ signifies girls clad in Anarkali sarees, while ‘Orange’ is for the scantily clad girls who escort you while you drink or dance. Police officials say that some bars have been given permission only to allow singers. “Bar dancers were banned a few years ago. But recently, after someone approached the Court, an interim suspension of one particular clause was suspended. But this does not mean that permission has been given to allow girls to dance,” a police official said. Hyderabad Police Commissioner B Prasada Rao said that the department has already cancelled licences of five bars which were violating norms. “We will crack down on all those bars who are violating norms,” he said. Besides Secunderabad, such bars are prevalent at Abids, RTC crossroads, Kukatpally and Ameerpet. Smitha (name changed), one of the girls in the bar at Secunderabad, said that she had come from Mumbai. “I make Rs 10,000-20,000 every day but Hyderabad is not as profitable as Mumbai,” she says. Interestingly, even during weekdays, the bars are crowded. “We have regular customers and they only visit the place to have a drink and enjoy themselves,” a bar employee said. By MOULI MAREEDU